U16 Tournament | Page 2 | The Boneyard

U16 Tournament

CocoHusky said:
What are your thoughts on Payton Verhulst as a UCONN wing prospect? She listed at 6'1" and may not be done growing and is out playing both Citron and Poffenbarger IMO.
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Coco:
I think both Citron and Verhulst are playing well. They're a bit different in my eyes:
- Citron is amazingly technical for her age, efficient and smooth, smooth, smooth. She missed what...one three-pointer today? See her as a #2.

- Verhulst is surprisingly agile. The talent/ability that goes into making her an all-state volleyball player is evident: she's quick off her feet to jump and has a really fast first step. There's a reason she's ahead of the break, as Sluconn noted. That aspect of her game reminds me a bit of Maddie Cable, another surprisingly good athlete, who ostensibly was the "big guard" or wing in ND's Princeton spread a few years back (with Lindsay Allen at point and Mabrey1 at the off guard).

The only mild disagreement I might have (now that Cable is in my mind) is didn't you mean potential ND wing prospect? :D:rolleyes:
And to think, she came in somewhat under the radar....
 
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DeBerry has definitely been disappointing though it's only two games. I think she's a project which I guess most rising juniors are, but she really is, imo.

Also, Aaliyah Moore is a bulldozer who has a really nice floor. Think she's going to be solid if not spectacular.
 
Sluconn Husky said:
DeBerry has definitely been disappointing though it's only two games. I think she's a project which I guess most rising juniors are, but she really is, imo.

Also, Aaliyah Moore is a bulldozer who has a really nice floor. Think she's going to be solid if not spectacular.
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Have to take a long-range view of all posts at this age, but the fact that Lauren Betts is starting, added 16 points and had 5 blocks caught my eye. 6'7" also catches my eye.

I saw the ESPNw article on her and see that Keith Van Horn is working with her. Here's his analysis:

"You can tell she's been around the game with the way she keeps the ball high and makes the right reads," said Van Horn, who coaches Betts on her Colorado Premier AAU team. "She's pretty instinctive, with great hands and a feel for blocking shots and knowing how to position herself so she can effectively use her height. She picks things up quickly, and that isn't always the case with kids her age.

"The next step is for her to develop confidence with her shooting range. She has a nice touch, and I think she will be a solid outside shooter. She has to develop go-to moves and counters, but she has the talent to play at a big-time level. She is already being recruited by a majority of the top-10 teams in the nation."
 
Dillon77 said:
Have to take a long-range view of all posts at this age, but the fact that Lauren Betts is starting, added 16 points and had 5 blocks caught my eye. 6'7" also catches my eye.
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She certainly has upside. Her coordination isn't there yet, but she has good timing on blocks including ones out of her space. She does lumber up and down the floor a bit, but then she's a large human being.
 
Citron is incredibly efficient. She just doesn't take poor shots, she's calm and calculated, smart. Much as I've been impressed with Verhulst she does force some bad shots, particularly in the lane. Miles has done that twice today already as well.
 
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28-11 after the 1st quarter.

Londynn Jones is 2/2 from three.

DeBerry has made two baskets off Miles passes.

KK Bransford is really athletic and has a chance to be an impact defender. She did get pulled after a poor pass though.

Betts played solidly.

Gardiner missed another bunny.
 
Shot clock violation after some great hounding by Miles and Jones.

Poffenbarger and Moore also pretty aggressive defenders. DeBerry a notably non-aggressive defender.
 
DeBerry continues to be a conundrum. She gets a lead pass on the break and should've had a layup. Instead, she stopped to let the trailing defenders go past, took a dribble backwards, and missed a jumper.
 
Jones hits her third 3 at the halftime buzzer after a good find by Poffenbarger on the break.

Bransford keeps being aggressive and getting to the line.

Can't stress enough how big Barker's upside is.

54-17
 
Competition is so bad. Not even close to the 2015 U16 tournament. Hopefully U19 will be better.
 
Verhulst is so dynamic and fun to watch while Citron is very disciplined and super smooth. Both are deceptively fast. I'd be very happy if we can land one those two.
 
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Verhulst making shots in the 3rd.

Miles will have to reign in some of the flashy passes in college but she sure is fun to watch make them.
 
98-33 final

Miles is kind of a walking highlight reel.

Poffenbarger contributed quite a bit without scoring.

Jones got two steals in about 12 seconds with her relentless defense.

DeBerry finished inside several times including one very impressive post move.
 
The quarterfinal against Brazil is supposed to be at 3:30pm ET on Thursday, but the YouTube link is not up yet.
 
awhom111 said:
The quarterfinal against Brazil is supposed to be at 3:30pm ET on Thursday, but the YouTube link is not up yet.
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Bad conflict with the World Cup USWNT game against Sweden which I am locked into.
 
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Trying not to overreact especially after three games against inferior competition. But general impressions so far some of which have been echoed already:

Olivia Miles is not only entertaining but she has elite court vision and passing ability. The rest of her game needs to catch up.

Payton Verhulst game is throwback, complete, advanced, athletic, enjoyable ....(insert your own positive adjective here).

I have seen plenty of quickness in players of Londynn Jones size who is generously listed at 5'5"-Never seen that combination of quickness and outside shooting prowess.

Lauren Betts is shooting 47% on 34 FGA-Both numbers are completely unacceptable because about 30 of those shots were at the basket and the tallest defender might have been only about 6'.

Either Citron or Poffenbarger would work well as big guard /wing in the UCONN offense- I'd prefer Poffenbarger. Citron is starting and outshooting Poffenbarger by a wide margin (69% to 36%) but I really really like the passing ability of Poffenbarger and she's putting that extra inch to work and hounding the perimeter defensively. Citron has been a little sloppy defensively and has picked up a few cheap fouls.

I see why @Sluconn Husky is talking about with Janiah Barker she just looks like an athlete ready to make some good happen all the time.

Kiki Rice needs a reliable outside jumpshot to get to the next level.

Bransford, DeBerry, Moore & Gardiner have all had head scratching moments and equal flashes of brilliances. For now I'd say Gardiner is the leader of that pack.
 
If you could only choose two players off this team to be eventual Huskies, who would they be?

Mine would be Verhulst and Betts.

All observations about Betts, both good and bad are valid. She still has three years of high school. Her strength, coordination and shooting touch should improve considerably in that time. As long as she stay healthy, her upside is ridiculous.

Watching Verhulst is "must-see" TV. Her stroke is in the same ballpark as Fudds. She plays with great joy and unselfishness. I know upcoming UCONN teams are loaded at wings but this kid is worth making room for.
 
victor64 said:
If you could only choose two players off this team to be eventual Huskies, who would they be?
Mine would be Verhulst and Betts.
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I would pick DeBerry and Aaliyah Moore today because UCONN's recruiting picture for bigs is so unclear.
Betts is too far away and UCONN has already secure comparable talent to Verhulst in Paige & Nika . UCONN needs to secure some front court players that can step in and play soon.
 
CocoHusky said:
I would pick DeBerry and Aaliyah Moore today because UCONN's recruiting picture for bigs is so unclear.
Betts is too far away and UCONN has already secure comparable talent to Verhulst in Paige & Nika . UCONN needs to secure some front court players that can step in and play soon.
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After watching her against a bunch of 5-9 kids this week, I feel the need to keep an eye on DeBerry once again. I hope you understand. ;);)
 
BobbyJ said:
After watching her against a bunch of 5-9 kids this week, I feel the need to keep an eye on DeBerry once again. I hope you understand. ;);)
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I understand and agree. @victor64 boxed me in though, he specifically said I had to pick two player from this U16 team. Besides 2021 doesn't have a lot of post talent at the top.
 
I like Verhulst but I wouldn't put her shot on Fudd's level.

I've been very impressed with Citron and not made my admiration for Londynn Jones a secret. Really, all of the '22's are impressive in some form or another which is why they're all top-10 in the class.
 
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CocoHusky said:
I understand and agree. @victor64 boxed me in though, he specifically said I had to pick two player from this U16 team. Besides 2021 doesn't have a lot of post talent at the top.
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Assuming a good work ethic and considering who she has working with her, I think Betts has excellent potential. With the abysmal competition it's difficult to evaluate much except motor and killer instinct. Just don't like these FIBA tournaments at all. And everywhere these tourneys go they have to over inflate the balls by a couple pounds. Why? Just makes shooting and ballhandling look bad.
 
To expand on my original post.

UCONN, it could be argued, would like any of the twelve to be future recruits. Probably an additional ten that got cut that they would interested in.

I am not suggesting that Verhulst is the talent that Fudd. Verhulst does not have the mid range game, the passing skills, strength or rebounding prowess of Fudd. Where Verhulst does somewhat compare favorably, is her shooting mechanics. Fudd's are better but the gap is not that wide.

I hope DeBerry decides to be a Husky. She has two years of high school to address whatever "flaws" were exposed in this tournament. The timing for Betts coming to UCONN may work out if Prince commits. Betts may enroll about the time (within a year, give or take) that Prince leaves. DeBerry and Betts, even though they have not done it yet, could coexist on the floor at the same time.

I realize the competition is not very strong but the talent these kids have shown is impressive especially because they are so young.
 
Quarter-final against Brazil.





Citron the best player in the 1st quarter again: Jumping passing lanes, getting loose in transition, hitting threes, banking in shots after her own miss.

Jones hit a three and a toe on the line kept her from a second. Also driving the Brazil PG nuts.
 
Betts has a barrel full of blocks and rebounds. Her hands are not great.

Jones hits another three after a feed from Poffenbarger. Saylor is kind of a jack of all trades.

Bransford needs to learn to slow down. I like her aggression but she really forces plays and tends to be out of control at times.

The halfcourt offense is not exactly a thing of beauty. It would help if they could throw
an entry pass.

Third three for Jones.

Rice's shot is just flat ugly, both from outside and the line.
 
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I might have Londynn Jones at the top of the heap at this point. She's an excellent ball-handler, makes mostly good decisions, is a wicked defender, can really shoot, and is smart and tenacious. Incredibly impressive and she's the youngest player on the team.
 
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